- Admin
Weekly Report 4|34 7.17.2021-7.23.2021
Highlights
On 16 July, Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee Vice Chairman and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Director Xia Baolong (夏宝龙) gave a speech at a symposium marking the first anniversary of the Hong Kong National Security Law. (See Senior Leaders section)
On 20 July, People’s Daily launched an ongoing, multi-part Zhong Sheng commentary series titled, “Political Tricks Can Hardly Cover Up the Truth About the United States’ Insufficient Anti-Epidemic Measures.” (See Propaganda Work section)
On 21 July, Xi Jinping gave instructions on flood prevention and disaster relief work in response to severe flooding in Henan province. (See Senior Leaders Section)
Senior Leaders
“Review and Outlook on the First Anniversary of the Implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law” Symposium Held, Xia Baolong Attended and Gave a Speech
7.16 Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee Vice Chairman and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council (HKMAO) Director Xia Baolong (夏宝龙) gave a speech at a symposium titled “Review and Outlook on the First Anniversary of the Implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL).” People’s Daily published an article on 17 July about his speech. In his speech, Xia noted that Xi Jinping’s centenary speech reiterated China’s position on the comprehensive and accurate implementation of “One Country, Two Systems” and the need to implement the central government’s comprehensive governance authority over the Special Administrative Regions (SAR) to promote the long-term stability of “One Country, Two Systems” and safeguard the SAR’s prosperity and stability. Xia also stated that “the enactment and implementation of the HKNSL reversed Hong Kong’s chaotic situation in one move and brought about a significant shift in the trend,” which he described as an “important milestone” for “One Country, Two Systems.” He also stated that the HKNSL helped Hong Kong fulfill its “constitutional responsibility” to safeguard national security and expressed hope that the HKNSL will become the “patron saint” of Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability. After noting that, with the HKNSL, Hong Kong has great prospects for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Xia highlighted the importance of “patriots governing Hong Kong” (爱国者治港), stating that it must be “strictly implemented” to remove “oppose China, stoke chaos in Hong Kong (反中乱港) elements” from Hong Kong’s governance framework. He also mentioned the importance of ensuring that the “patriots” elected are adept at comprehensively and accurately implementing “One Country, Two Systems,” among other things. HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam (林郑月娥) and Macau SAR Chief Executive He Yicheng (贺一诚) were among the over 300 people who attended the symposium.
Li Keqiang Inspects National Natural Science Foundation of China and Presides over Convened Symposium, Emphasizes Enhancing Scientific Spirit, Trying Hard to Strengthen Basic Research, Advancing Reform, and Stimulating Greater Creative Energy of Scientific Researchers
7.19 Politburo Standing Committee member and Premier Li Keqiang (李克强) conducted an investigation and held a symposium at the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) on 19 July. People’s Daily published an article on 21 July about the symposium and Li’s speech. Li listened to an NFSC report on reforming the alleviation of researchers’ project reporting burden and strengthening support in key areas. He noted the historical shift from “planned allocation” to “competitive selection of the best” of scientific resources, which better promotes scientific innovation, and urged the continuation of various reforms and promoted cross-scientific research. NSFC leaders gave speeches, after which Li asked relevant departments to seriously study these recommendations. Li then noted the importance of adhering to Xi Jinping Thought as a guide, implementing the requirements of the “new development stage,” implementing the “new development concept,” constructing a “new development pattern,” and promoting “high-quality development.” He explained that deepening reform would encourage innovation and creativity and provide support for national development. Li pointed out that there were still shortcomings in China’s technological development and traced them back to the weakness of innovation, suggesting that basic research is essential to promoting original innovation and building a modern and powerful nation. He also stated that it is necessary to steadily increase financial investment in basic research and use other financial incentives to increase enthusiasm for such research and necessary to improve the education level in schools in math, physics, and chemistry. After emphasizing the need to overcome barriers that restrict science and technology development, he outlined a number of budgetary and management reforms to improve scientific research.
Li Keqiang Issued Important Instructions at 2021 National Medical Reform Work Video Conference, Emphasizing that the Vast Majority of the Masses Looks Forward to Continuing to Advance Medical Reform, Letting the Masses Enjoy More Convenient, and Better Excellent Quality Medical Treatment Services; Sun Chunlan Attended and Gave a Speech
7.20 On 20 July, Politburo Standing Committee member and Premier Li Keqiang (李克强) issued important comments at the 2021 National Medical Reform Work Video Conference. A People’s Daily article on 21 July covered Li’s instructions, where he pointed out that “medical treatment and sanitation are the firm shields that protect people’s lives and health.” He noted the recent round of medical reforms that allowed the medical and health system to make “significant contributions to the fight against COVID-19.” He also emphasized adherence to Xi Jinping Thought as a guide for medical reform, and stated the importance of focusing on alleviating the problem of the high cost of medical visits, advancing the reforming of the “three medicals” (三医), and advancing convenient measures associated with diagnosis and treatment, appointments, and outpatient services. Vice Premier Sun Chunlan (孙春兰) delivered a speech and highlighted the importance of implementing the spirit of Xi’s centenary speech and Li’s instructions. She also emphasized paying more attention to prevention and consolidating and expanding reform effectiveness, among other things. Sun pointed out the importance of building up medical infrastructure at the local and regional levels, promoting city- and provincial-level coordination, and expanding the range of centralized medicine procurement. She concluded her speech by commenting on epidemic prevention and control to safeguard people’s lives and health.
The CCP and State Council’s Decision on Improving Birth Policies to Promote Long-Term and Balanced Population Development, (June 26th, 2021)
7.21 This explanation of the CCP and State Council’s Decision to increase the birth limit to three children centered on the grounds of population development being important to China and developing according to the needs of the current situation. Besides increasing the limit of children allowed per family, this Decision also cancelled “social support fees” for violating the limit and implemented other child support measures. The article highlighted the Decision’s role in helping with population aging and its contribution to increasing human capital for the future labor force and thus sustainable economic development. The CCP and State Council recognized that “the population and the capacity of resources are in a tight balance,” and called for stronger population monitoring and research moving forward. The child support measures addressed the “economic burden, commitment to caring for children, and the potential career impact that make many women less willing to bear children.” These specifically included improved medical health for pregnant women and children, preventative care and treatment of birth defects, the regulation of assisted reproductive technology, improved maternity leave, and the deduction of child-care expenses from personal-income tax. The Decision committed to provide re-education training for women trying to reenter the workforce after an interruption due to childbirth. The article also addressed the potential for an educational system further strained by the more children potentially born under the new three-child limit, and expressed the government’s commitment to lower the costs of education (in addition to lowering the costs of giving birth and of raising children), and to work against the “fervent clamor of going to specific schools” through increased educational equity. Lastly, it expressed the expected accountability of each province, autonomous district, and municipality to make an annual report to the Party on the situation of their population.
How to Implement the Three-Child Policy: Focus on the Concerns of the Masses, Accompanied By Supportive Measures (A Policy Interpretation)
7.22 The policy interpretation of the Decision on Improving Birth Policies to Promote Long-Term and Balanced Population Development," (“the Decision,” 《决定》) focused on the “practical difficulties” facing “marriage, childbirth, parenting and education as a whole.” It quoted relevant officials as advocating “amending the population and family planning law, promoting marriage and having children at the appropriate age, bearing and rearing [children], and the implementation of the Three-Child Policy.” Besides recognizing the positive results from the Two-Child Policy, these government bodies cited the following two reasons for raising the limit: 1. To ease dropping fertility rates and their associated risks, including an aging population, and 2. “To consolidate the achievements of poverty alleviation and building a moderately well-off society, and to promote a harmonious coexistence of man and nature”. With regards to fertility, the Decision' repeatedly asserted that “how many children an individual has will no longer be a reference when he or she registers for a household account, enrolls in school, or applies for a job.” Additionally, as part of the implementation of the Three-Child Policy, China is abolishing “social support fees'' for going over the two-child limit and is committed “to continu[ing] to implement incentive and assistance systems and preferential policies” for childbearing families.
The Decision also recognized the high and increasing cost of raising children, and that the demand to get admitted into schools will increase. It spoke of the need to develop and support parks and kindergartens for younger children, funded primarily by the government, but also with reasonable family support and raising money by other means, so that services have a secure funding mechanism and the costs can be subsidized for low-income families. The Decision noted the difficulty of coordinating school release time with the work release time of the parents, and proffered the “5+2” model as a solution, in which schools have mandated after-school programs at least two hours long. As for marriage, it affirmed the Ministry of Civil Affairs’ commitment to support marriages and families, and to implement the Three-Child Policy, by opposing high-dowry prices and experimenting with reforms across the nation, and promised to explore parental-care leave systems to enable only children to care for aging parents.
Xi Jinping: Comprehensively Implement the Party’s Governance Strategy for Tibet in the New Era and Write a New Chapter of Long-Term Peace and Stability and High Quality Development in the Plateau Region
7.21-23 From 21 to 23 July, Xi Jinping conducted an inspection trip to Tibet, the first for a CCP leader. On the trip, he highlighted the many achievements of the Chinese Communist Party in Tibet and the economic and development benefits accrued over the 70 years it had governed the Tibet Autonomous Region. Looking to the future, Xi said that Tibet must comprehensively implement the Party’s governance strategy for Tibet in the new era; adhere to the foundational emphasis of “seeking progress while maintaining stability (稳中求进) based on the new development stage; fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development concept; serve and integrate the new development pattern; promote high quality development; strengthen the construction of border areas; fully grasp the four areas of stabilization, development, ecology, and strengthening the border; unceasingly achieve new accomplishments in promoting ecological protection and sustainable development in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau; and strive to write a new chapter of long-term peace and stability and high quality development in the plateau region.” On his trip, Xi visited the Nyang River Bridge and emphasized prioritizing environmental protection, devoting special attention to river basins and water resources. While visiting other towns and municipalities in the region, he highlighted ethnic unity. Xi hailed the recent completion of the Lhasa–Nyingchi railway, Tibet’s first bullet train, pointing out the importance of the railroad for Tibet’s development. He also visited several cultural, religious, and economic sites in Lhasa.
On Xi’s inspection tour, he stressed the necessity of education work in the areas of national unity, socialist core values, patriotism, anti-splittism, and Marxist views on history, ethnicity, culture, and religion. He further encouraged strengthening the identification of all ethnic groups with China. He touted the Party’s work on poverty alleviation and prioritized both infrastructure and environmental protection in the region going forward. He made remarks about the recent floods in Henan, and underscored the importance of disaster prevention work. Central Committee Members Ding Xuexiang (丁薛祥)、Liu He (刘鹤)、Yang Xiaodu (杨晓渡)、Zhang Youxia, (张又侠)、Chen Xi (陈希)、and He Lifeng (何立峰) and other relevant Party, state, and local leaders also participated in the activities.
Xi Jinping Issues Important Instructions on Flood Control and Disaster Relief Work, Requires People’s and Masses’ Lives, Property, and Safety to Always be Placed First, Carefully and Closely Pay Attention to Various Flood Control and Disaster Relief Measures
7.21 Xi Jinping gave important instructions on flood prevention and disaster relief work on 21 July. He pointed out the severe flooding situation in Henan, where cities have experienced heavy rainfall, reservoirs have broken dams, transportation has been suspended, and casualties and property loss have occured. Xi emphasized that “[We have] already entered the crucial point for flood control” and that “leaders and cadres at all levels must always put safeguarding the people’s and masses’ lives, property, and safety first” and take the lead in rapidly organizing the power for flood control and disaster relief, among other things. He stated that several ministries, including the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Emergency Management, Ministry of Water Resources, and Ministry of Transport, should strengthen coordination, inspection, and risk elimination and improve their early warning systems. He also requested that the relevant departments in all regions restore life back to normal as soon as possible while carrying out flood prevention and relief work to prevent the return of poverty due to disasters.
Eighth National Providing Assistance to Xinjiang Work Conference Held, Wang Yang Attended and Gave a Speech
7.19-21 The Eighth National Providing Assistance to Xinjiang Work Conference was held from 19 to 21 July. A People’s Daily article published on 22 July covered Politburo member and Central Committee Xinjiang Work Coordination Small Group leader Wang Yang’s (汪洋) speech at the conference. In his speech, Wang emphasized the necessity of using Xi Jinping Thought as a guide, implementing the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang, advancing the Party building spirit, and adhering to providing comprehensive, precise, and long-term assistance to Xinjiang to solve problems that affect Xinjiang’s long-term stability. He noted the successes in Xinjiang in recent years under the leadership of the Party Central Committee, which include overcoming the epidemic, supporting Xinjiang’s economic and social development, poverty alleviation efforts, and more. Wang also mentioned that assistance to Xinjiang is a major political task and stated the necessity of focusing on intellectual assistance, group-based assistance, and industrial assistance toward Xinjiang. He said that China should “adhere to combining ‘coming in’ and ‘going out,’ advance the exchange and mutual learning of Xinjiang’s fine regional culture and the culture of all of China’s ethnicities, and enhance the recognition of Chinese culture by people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. Chen Quanguo (陈全国) and You Quan (尤权) attended the meeting, and the latter also gave a speech that mostly reiterated Wang’s points. Several other parties also made speeches.
At a State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters Plenary Session, Wang Yong Emphasized the Need to Strengthen Coordination, Implement Measures, and Do a Good Job at Flood Control and Disaster Relief Efforts
7.22 On July 22, State Council member Wang Yong (王勇) conducted the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters in which he called for the implementation of President Xi’s remarks on flood control and disaster relief, to plan and prepare for the worst, and to “conscientiously put safeguarding people’s lives, property, and safety on stable ground.” He listed detailed and practical steps, which included a commitment to “exert the greatest effort to minimize casualties, injury, and disaster damage,” to “appropriately relocate people affected by disasters,” and to restore normalcy in the affected areas, claiming it is “better to prepare ten times, even if it is only needed once,” (宁可十防九空). He also voiced the Party’s commitment to “strengthen the embankments of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers” as part of an overall plan to institute earlier flood warnings and help the people “safely pass through floods.”
Propaganda Work
Zhong Sheng: America’s Threatening Behavior Is Unable to Block Hong Kong’s Flourishing Development
7.18 On 16 July, four American departments jointly released “Risks and Considerations for Businesses Operating in Hong Kong,” to warn American companies about possible risks of continued business in an environment increasingly controlled by the CCP. An 18 July Zhong Sheng commentary offered a direct response: it criticized America for the warning and affirmed Hong Kong’s stability. The commentary accused America of “trying in vain to damage the stability of Hong Kong’s prosperity, threaten China’s national security, and thwart China’s development,” which were evidence of “American bullying” and the “American double-standard.” It then highlighted Hong Kong’s success, claiming “its status as an international hub of finance, trade, and shipping, has only been stabilized,” and that since the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL) was established, Hong Kong has had an even greater environment, safe and predictable for investors, with greater order and rule of law. The Zhong Sheng commentary ended with the argument that American companies in Hong Kong are more worried about being caught up in American political conspiracies against China than about the stability of Hong Kong.
Ren Zhongping: The Source of Power for a Vast Epic--On Promoting the Great Spirit of Party Building People’s Daily
7.20 On 20 July, a People’s Daily commentary under the highly authoritative pen name Ren Zhongping (任仲平), which stands for “important People’s Daily commentary” (人民日报的重要评论), published an article titled “The Source of Power for Developing an Epic-On Promoting the Great Spirit of Party Construction.” In the first section, the commentary quoted Xi Jinping as saying “One-hundred years ago, the Chinese Communist Party’s [(CCP)] pioneers established the [CCP], forming a great spirit of party construction [that involved] adhering to truth, holding fast to ideals, practicing the original aspiration, undertaking the mission, not fearing sacrifice, heroically fighting, loyalty to the Party, and not turning back on the people. This is the [CCP’s] spiritual source.” This spirit, the article stated, was responsible for forging the “political character” of party members and leading the Chinese people towards rejuvenation. Second, the article stated that at the Party’s founding, the element that set it apart from other political movements in China during the early 20th Century was in the Party’s “great spirit.” Moreover, the article remarked that that “great spirit of party building is the ‘source code’ (源代码) and ‘basic content’ (根目录) behind the splendid one-hundred years.” Third, the article noted that Marxism became “the ‘scripture’ of Party members because its scientificness and truthfulness have been amply tested in China,” giving party members a “common language and spiritual pillar.” Furthermore, the Party had “continuously advanced Marxism’s sinification and modernization,” ultimately “creating a new pattern in human civilization.” The fourth section discussed how “practicing the original aspiration and undertaking the mission [of seeking blessing and rejuvenation for the Chinese people] is a spiritual inheritance crossing time and space,” and how the Party’s leadership had benefited the Chinese people.
Fifth, the article explored Party’s “spirit of not fearing sacrifice and heroically fighting,” stating that “countless numbers of Party members..used boiling warm blood to dye the Party’s and nation’s flag red, and used sacrifice to consecrate and cast the Party’s and nation’s soul.” In the sixth section, the article discussed loyalty to the Party, calling it the “most crucial” element influencing the Party’s growth and “the most important political quality of a Party member.” Furthermore, the article stated that serving the people is what makes loyalty to the Party “have its deepest background value [and] most majestic source of power.” Seventh, the article described how each generation of party members had “achieved a ‘most rich political party’ and constructed a dazzling spiritual pedigree” that “lit the party members’ journey of struggle and became the hundred-year Party’s outstanding sign and unique superiority”; passed on “red genes” that enabled party members to have “charging courage, earth-changing resolve, and the confidence to obtain victory in the future”; led to “countless party members...writing a majestic and powerful heroic song in the middle of [their] sacrifice]”; and “...lit the spiritual homeland of the Chinese people.” In the eighth part, the article stated that Party members today “need even more to promote the great spirit of Party construction on the ‘new road to the examination’” (新的赶考之路), telling them to derive the power of truth, practice, and integrity from it. Finally, the article concluded by stating “a political party that knows its objective, knows how to obtain its objective, and truly wants and has the essential tenacious spirit to achieve it is invincible.”
Zhong Sheng: Political Tricks Can Hardly Cover Up the Truth About the United States’ Insufficient Anti-Epidemic Measures
A Zhong Sheng series sharply criticized the United States’ failures in dealing with COVID-19. It highlighted US challenges, warning that if the United States does not cease engaging in political manipulation and continues to avoid international cooperation, it will reveal its failure in addressing the epidemic
20 July’s commentary, titled “The People Yearn for Science to be Respected and Justice Defended,” sought to expose America’s secretiveness concerning tracing the virus in its own country, despite its politically manipulative efforts to trace it internationally. This article drew attention to 55 countries who wrote a letter to the secretary-general of the WHO calling for scientific investigation and opposing political manipulation [in virus tracing]. The commentary specifically stated that “the reason America and a few other countries have gone against popular opinion in hyping the “laboratory leak” theory is to shift the blame of their own failure to fight the epidemic to tarnishing China’s reputation and limiting its development.” The article referenced a Lancet article from last February in which 24 scientists condemned the “lab leak” conspiracy theory, as well as a study from the National Institutes of Health which suggested that the coronavirus had already reached America by December of 2019. In sum, this article affirmed that America’s fight will result in failure unless it engages in greater global cooperation and ceases to deny scientific findings concerning the origins of the coronavirus.
21 July’s commentary, titled “Selfishness and Prejudice will Destroy the Global Situation of Anti-Epidemic Measures,” questioned the Biden administration maxim that “America is back” when it is ceasing to engage in multilateralism to fight the epidemic but instead “forms cliques and small groups to oppress other countries.” The commentary reminded the reader that the COVID-19 situation is still variable and that the virus has begun to mutate, and then criticized the US for stirring up trouble and politicizing the situation in the face of this. The article voiced the concern that, “many scientists are worried that if they are the first to reveal the gene sequence of the coronavirus, they will be stigmatized,” and that no country will want to be the first to admit a virus has started in their country in the future for fear of being stigmatized [like China was]. The commentary sharply criticized America for withdrawing from the WHO at a critical time and for hoarding vaccines referring to data that showed that America has “snatched up 2.6 billion doses of the vaccine, a quarter of the world’s total supply, far exceeding what it needs.” It pointed out that even American newspapers have criticized America for “only caring about the domestic situation of the epidemic,” and urged America to change its ways and do more to involve itself in international cooperative efforts.
22 July’s commentary, titled “The Main Culprit of ‘American-Style Failure,’” criticized US politicians for “putting politics over science and political self-interest over the lives and health of the people.” The commentary claimed that “the American people have paid a heavy price for the inaction and disorder of their government.” It further criticized America for claiming it has the best medical resources and capabilities in the world when it has handled the epidemic situation so poorly, with the highest numbers of cases and deaths in the world. This article quoted several American news agencies which criticized the US government’s handling of the situation and of politicians seeking personal gain in the chaos. In a comeback against America’s outcry against alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang, the commentary stated that, “some politicians put political, voting, and financial interests above the health and lives of the people, clearly showing that the democracy and human rights which they flaunt are actually of little significance to them.” It further used the results from a public opinion poll from the Associated Press (AP) and University of Chicago which showed that the majority of Americans blame the US government for the epidemic crisis, and then stated that America will reap what it has sown.
23 July’s commentary, titled “The ‘Law of Spiritual Victory’ When Deceiving Others and Deceiving Oneself,” identified the underlying social problems in the United States that the epidemic amplified, and which have led to the United States’ cycle of “deteriorating, easing of tension, and then rebounding.” The commentary claimed that the United States wants to hide its failure, especially by politicians politicizing the virus and stigmatizing other countries, but that rather than playing the blame game, America should realize that “at a deeper level, the racial divide, wealth gap, and the tearing apart of its society are the important reasons America has failed in fighting the epidemic.” It quoted political scientist Francis Fukuyama as saying that the epidemic “intensified political polarization” when it could have been a crisis that pulled people together. It then criticized CDC findings in June which showed that Hispanic and Black Americans have been respectively vaccinated 66 and 56 percent less than their white counterparts in the US, before calling out the American healthcare system, in which “the amount of wealth determines the amount of right one has to life and health” since many poorer families lack medical insurance. It urged American politicians to “return to reality as soon as possible, face its problems head on, and have the courage to address domestic issues (拿出勇气刀刃向内).”
He Yin: Contributing a Chinese Plan for Global Biological Security Governance People’s Daily
7.21 People’s Daily published a He Yin commentary on the Tianjin Biosecurity Guidelines for Codes of Conduct for Scientists (hereafter referred to as “the Guidelines”) recently receiving approval from InterAcademy Partnership. The commentary called the Guidelines “the newest result achieved by the international community promoting responsible biological research.” Specifically, the commentary said that responsible biological research was “a frontline international issue (国际前沿问题) and an important issue in global biological security governance.” Furthermore, the commentary noted that China drafted biological safety standards for scientists as early as 2015, and that “in line with openness, pragmatism, and a spirit of win-win cooperation, [China] promoted the process of multilateral dialogue and received positive appraisal from the international community.” Next, the article addressed the topic of biological technology, stating that it “exhibits tremendous use in advancing mankind’s health and well-being.” Furthermore, the article said that conducting and managing biological research well “is in accordance with the international community’s common interest.” Moreover, the article stressed that although countries differ both in the level of biological technology and how biological technology is managed, “the determination to advance the development of biological technology and build a biological safety defensive perimeter should be identical” (别无二致). The article then stated that the Guidelines “offered a new plan” and that “[we] believe the Guidelines will be beneficial to all stakeholders.” The article further elaborated that the Guidelines exhibit “a spirit of good professionalism and cooperation” and “this also again proves that [when] facing global issues, only strengthening mutual trust and deepening cooperation can find effective solutions.” After explaining how China valued biological safety and increased its biological safety governance, the article concluded by stating “China will continue to uphold the concept of a community of shared future for mankind, comprehensively plan its development and security, thoroughly participate in global biological safety governance, contribute Chinese wisdom, put forward Chinese plans, and together with the international community continuously upgrade the level of global biological security governance and promote universal security and common development.”
People’s Daily Commentator Article Series: On the Spiritual Pedigree of Chinese Comunist Party Members
People’s Daily featured a Commentator series on the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communist Party members.
19 July’s article, entitled “The Great Spirit of Party Construction: [The] Chinese Communist Party Member’s Spiritual Force,” began by quoting Xi Jinping as saying “ In the one-hundred years [since the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) founding], The CCP promoted the great spirit of party building and constructed the spiritual pedigree of CCP members,’ forging a distinct political character. We must continue to promote glorious traditions, continue red bloodlines, forever inheriting and carrying forward the great spirit of party construction.” The Article went on to state that the spirit of party construction was a “spiritual support and great power” that gave guidance to the Party as it led the people in overcoming challenges, crediting it with the Party’s success and growth. Next, the Article said that various “spirits” held by each generation of CCP members were, among other things, “our Party’s past, present, and future valuable spiritual wealth.” Moving on, the Article stressed the need for the Party to, among other things, “promote the great spirit of party construction” in the middle of “changes unseen in a century.” It concluded: “Looking back on the past and surveying the journey ahead, [by] promoting the great spirit of party building from beginning to end, using the Party’s process of struggle and great accomplishments to encourage the will to fight and guide the direction, using the Party’s glorious traditions and the firm faith of the Party’s fine style of work to gather strength, and using the Party’s historic experience and practice to create enlightenment and wisdom, hone character, carry the cause forward, and forge ahead, we can definitely give more exceptional answers on the road to the examination and create a new greater splendor.
22 July’s article, “Let the Jinggang Shan Spirit Radiate the Brilliant Rays of the New Era,” first described Jinggang Shan’s history and significance to the CCP, calling it “the cradle of the Chinese revolution” and stating that the spirit it produced “illuminated the Chinese revolution striding towards success step by step.” Next, the article defined various aspects of the Jinggang Shan spirit, namely its “soul” (“firm conviction in Marxism, firm belief in socialism and communism”), its “core” (“seeking truth from facts [and] daring to forge new roads”), and its “cornerstone” (“arduous struggle”). The article went on to say that “the Jinggang Shan spirit is “our Party’s past, present, and future valuable spiritual wealth. [We] must always remember [it], pass [it] on for many generations, be ideologically pure from the source (正本清源), have strong roots and guard [one’s] soul (固根守魂), preserve [a] CCP member’s political inherent qualities from beginning to end, [and] let the Jinggang Shan spirit radiate the brilliant rays of the new era.”After describing what CCP members and cadres must do as China approaches the second centenary goal of “comprehensively establishing a modern socialist country,” such as “being good at using the mentality and methods of reform to solve every problem [when] advancing forward,” the the article concluded by stating, “On a new chapter, [by] inheriting and making full use of the Jinggang Shan spirit, using the CCP member’s spiritual pedigree to nourish yourself and encourage yourself, consciously being a firm believer in and loyal practicer of the lofty ideals of Communism and the joint ideals of socialism with Chinese characteristics, [and] untiringly and eternally struggling, we can definitely accomplish achievements worthy of the Party, the people, and the times.”
Zhong Sheng: Defaming Others Will Not Wash the “Hacking Empire” Clean
7.22 A People’s Daily Zhong Sheng commentary claimed that “The United States has consistently portrayed itself as the victim of cybersecurity [hacks], but the reality is that America is the largest [‘hacking empire’] in the world.” After stating that the criticism from America and its allies against China on the issue of cybersecurity lacks evidence, the commentary claimed that China has never “encouraged, supported, or indulged in hacking.” In contrast, this article recounted America’s bad cyber behavior as evidenced by the Wikileak, Snowden and Swiss Crypto AG scandals, claiming that “America has engaged in extensive, organized, and indiscriminate stealing of secrets, eavesdropping, and attacks against countries, businesses, individuals, and even its own allies.” According to Zhong Sheng, “America is the number one attacker against China’s internet,” including data from the National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center (CNCERT/CC) of China whose results showed that “in 2020, about 52,000 command and control servers located outside of China took control of about 5.31 million host computers in China.” It further claimed that the US CIA has infiltrated China’s critical industries for as long as 11 years, further evidence for its portrayal of America as a “hacking empire.” For these actions and for its defamation of China, the commentary said that the United States should be boycotted by the international community.
People’s Daily Commentator Article: Placing Guaranteeing the Safety of People’s and Masses’ Lives and Property First from Beginning to End
7.22 People’s Daily published a Commentator Article titled “Placing Guaranteeing the Safety of People’s and Masses’ Lives and Property First from Beginning to End” on the flooding in Henan Province. The article began by quoting Xi Jinping’s recent remarks on the flooding, then described how “under the strong leadership of the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core,” local party committees, governments, departments, units, leading cadre, soldiers, first responders, and cadres came together to help with disaster relief. This, the Article noted, demonstrated, among other things, the “spirit of great love of all directions providing assistance [when] an area has difficulty” and “the vital energy of dashing and being bold in overpowering every difficulty and not being overpowered by any difficulty.” Next, the article stressed the need to put the safety of the people’s lives and property first in combating the flood and “amply display the political and heroic inherent qualities of party members.” The article then stated that since “flood control and disaster relief are related to the safety of the people’s lives and property, food security, economic security, social security, and national security, doing flood control and disaster relief work well is very important,” and gave instructions to party committees, governments, the military, governmental departments, cadres, grassroots party organizations and party members on what to do when carrying out flood control and disaster relief. The article concluded by stating “‘Whoever puts the people first in their heart, the people will put them first in their hearts.’ Our country has entered into the main flooding season, flooding and other disasters happen frequently, and the flood control situation is not optimistic. [By] putting the people living in peace and working happily (安居乐业) and changes in safety and danger in [our] hearts from beginning to end, adhering to the people first and life first, making an all-out effort, tackling the problem and overcoming its challenges, and using responsibility and action to guard the safety of the masses’ lives and property, we can definitely win the tough battle of flood control and disaster relief.
Central Military Commission
Central Military Commission Issues “Regulations on Military Mass Work”
7.20 The Central Military Commission (CMC) issued “Regulations on Military Mass Work,” which will come into effect on 1 August. The Regulations emphasize thoroughly implementing Xi Jinping’s strong military thought, the “flesh and blood connections” (血肉联系) between the PLA and the people, building a powerful foundation for the capacity to achieve victories, consolidating military-civilian unity, and comprehensively and systematically regulating the mass work of the military for a new era. Consisting of eight chapters and forty-three articles, the Regulations emphasize national unity, “clarify the implications and position, guiding principles, and foundational mission of military mass work and the norms for supporting the government and loving the people” (拥政爱民) and for participating in and supporting social and economic construction, as well as jointly building a socialist spiritual civilization along with the people. It also stipulates discipline requirements and mass work during combat, non-combat, and military training contexts. The Regulations focus extensively on the relationship between the PLA and the Chinese people, attempting to improve coordination between the two.
International Liaison Work
7.21 International Department Deputy Head Shen Beili (沈蓓莉) attended the “Cuba Must Prevail - The Truth about the 7.11 Anti-Government Demonstrations Video Briefing” jointly hosted by the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and the São Paulo Forum (FSP). Other participants included PCC Secretariat member and Ideological Department Head Rogelio Polanco Fuentes.
7.22 International Department Deputy Head Qian Hongshan (钱洪山) held a video call with Communist Party of Belarus (CPB) Central Committee First Secretary Aleksei Sokal.
7.23 International Department Deputy Head Guo Yezhou (郭业洲) met with the participants of a webinar for cadres of the National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC).
7.23 Qian Hongshan held a video call with People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT) First Deputy Chair Azizi Abdujabbor Abdukahhor.
Organization Work
7.22 Guo Wei (郭玮) was appointed deputy secretary-general of the State Council.
7.22 Xiang Dong (向东) was appointed deputy director of the State Council Research Office.
7.22 Wang Annan (汪安南) was appointed director of the Yellow River Conservancy Commission.
7.22 Han Jiecai (韩杰才) was appointed president of the Harbin Institute of Technology.